The Right Use of Recommendation Letters

Yes, a recommendation letter is still in use and has not expired! Although it might be a bit of a tedious “job” to get others to recommend you, remember it can be the determining point for when your future hiring manager decides which candidate to select.

Don’t mind the time you have to put into it, it’s going to help YOU go a long way! The good news is, today a recommendation letter is not such a formal requirement in the recruiting process, there is more flexibility in terms that it doesn’t have to be a formal 2 -page letter, and there are other ways of obtaining recommendation letters like through social media tools, such as LinkedIn.

Lisa Quast has a vast experience in coaching applicants of all ages and her tips on what to ask for in a recommendation letter are very useful.

According to her, the elements that a recommendation letter should include are:

The date

The hiring manager’s name, title, company name and address information

Your full name in the body of the recommendation

The length of time the recommender has known you and the relationship (former boss, coworker, etc.)

The key qualities or strengths that differentiate you from other candidates who might be applying for the job

Any other qualifications as to why the recommender believes you would be the best person for the position, such as your education, work experience, etc.

The recommender’s name, signature and contact information at the bottom of the letter

Finally, remember to have them ready in case you need them so don’t waste much time getting them when a hiring asks you for them.